IF and only IF you have been reading the new X-Men title, this book will be fun and interesting. Or perhaps IF you’ve read the Death Of Dracula One-Shot, this book will be fun and interesting. Expanding on many of the plot lines from both of those titles, this issue was fun romp “unda da sea” with Namor and the apt-named Tridents. Moore weaves a nice little tale of intrigue and mystery, that pays off (to an extent) with the villains, and for once I think I actually enjoyed Olivetti’s art. It worked well with the undersea-ers of the 616.

Now all that being said. THIS WAS A TERRIBLE FIRST ISSUE FOR NEW READERS OR ANYONE NOT READING THE X-MEN/VAMPIRES STORYLINE. This did nothing to set up the character of Namor, explain who he is or any details of how he got to where he is currently in his fishy life. Granted there was a prose section in the back, skimming the details of his life (and recommending ELSE to buy to just simply understand Namor) but I feel new readers might not have made it that far, what with the entire issue mired in current X-Men continuity.

I enjoyed the hell out of this comic, but IMO only because it enhanced the X-Men book, NOT because it was a great 1st issue. Boo!